Thirdly, After hearing practise these Directi 1. Labour to keep alive those good motions, thofe good inclinations, thofe Heavenly affecti ans, and stirrings of Spirit which thou foundest in time of hearing. Thou wilt quickly cool, when out of the Congregation, if thou take not heed. 2. When thou goeft from the Congregation, be willing to speak and confer of what thou haft heard, labouring thereby to work thofe truths an thy own beart, and on the hearts of others: Q how fad is it that people as foon as ever they are out of the Congregation, fall a talking of any thing rather than the Sermon they have heard! They are free to talk of bargains, or news, or any thing else: But they are afhamed of fuch precife difcourfe, as to speak of the truths they have heard, though. they concern them never fo much. 3. Let fuch as are governours of Families revive the truths they have heard in publick, by repetition in their Families : Oụt memories are weak, and Commands had need be repeated to forgetful fervants. At first hearing many truths may be loft through distraction and wandring. Paul in his Epiftles does often repeat the fame paffages, and renew the fame exhortations. And he tels the Philippians, C.3.v.1, To write the fame things to them, was not to him grievous, but for them fafe. 4. Retire thy felf, and meditate on the truths thou thou hast heard, and labour to faften them by prayer in thy heart. Let thy Confcience in fecret preach them over to thee again, Luke 2.19. 'Tis faid, Mary pondered thofe fayings in her heart. O how few will spend a fecret hour on the Lords day to confider and meditate on what they have heard. One main reafon Sermons do no more good is because people fo foon forget them. And why do they forget them fo foon? But because they do not confider and meditate on them, when they have heard them,Heb.2.1.Therefore faies the Apoftle, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, left at any time we should let them flip. And 1 Tim.4.15. Meditate upon these things, give thy felf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. 5. Be not a bare hearer, but a doer of the Word. Speedily fet upon the practise of what thou hast learned to be thy duty. Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own foules. Fam.1.22. Some do not care to hear, becaufe they have no mind to practife. Some hear, and reft in it. 'Tis practise that proclaims the fincerity of our profeffion. In hearing we may look like Saints, but in doing we live like Saints, Practife is the best commendation of a Sermon. Having thus fhewed thee what thou must do. 1. Before hearing the Word. 74 3• After 3. After hearing the Word. I come now to give thee fome Motives to quicken thee to the practife of thefe Directions. 1. Confider, fuch as wilfully neglect to prepare their hearts, before they come to bear, do tempt God to withdraw the affistance and blessing of his holy Spirit from them when they are come. Prefume not on Gods affiftance in an Ordinance, if you neglect to prepare for it. If the ground be not well prepared, we do not expect a crop. 2. Confider and remember, the Devils care is, not only to disturb thee at the Ordinance, but to indifpofe thee for it, before thou comeft. The Devil's firring early on the Lords day morning. He is at work betimes: Be fure, he hath a mornings draught for thee; he will be presenting and fuggefting fomething to thee, to unfit and indifpofe thee for the duties of the day. 3. Confider, as thou art more or less careful to prepare, fo wilt thou ordinarily more or leffe taft the Tweetneffe of the Ordinance. Preparation is like exercife before a meal: It will make thee come with the better appetite to the Word, and relish it the better. 4. Confider, preparation is not only advantageous in order to the Ordinance, but it brings advantage to us, confidered in it felf. By preparati_ on we have communion with God: We come to iderftand our felves, and the cafe of our own fouls. Whilfe thou art preparing, thy Graces are in creafing creafing the work of Heaven goes on. 5. Confider, If thou makest Confcience thus to behave thy felf before, in, and after hearing of the Word (as thou hast been directed) thou wilt find it a great evidence of the fincerity and uprightneffe of thy heart. Outward refpects may make people come to Church, but to take pains thus with their hearts beforehand, argues a true defire after communion with God, and a real willingnefe to profit by the Word, and to grew in Grace. 6. Confider what a choice mercy it is to enjoy the Gospel. 'Tis not a dish that is set on every table. God hath not done fo for every Nation, as for this. No Ifland fo far from Jerufalem, had the light of the Gospel fo foon as this. And I know not any particular promife whereby the Gospel is entailed on this, or any other Nation. If we fight the Gospel, for ought I know, we may quickly forfeit it; and provoke God to take it from us. When the Ifraelites defpifed Manna, God quickly fent ferpents among them. If we defpife the Manna of his Word, aud count it light food, God may juftly fend Serpents among us; I mean, fuch deceivers as with their pernicious Doctrines may poifon many fouls to their everlasting deftruction. 7. Laftly, Confider, though the Gospel may continue to the Nation, yet thou or I may quickly be deprived of our perfonal opportunities of enjoying of it. I have heard of one lying on his deathbed, that Chap.6. that cryed out, Call time back, Call time back. Thou maift fhortly cry out call Sermons back; call Sabbaths back, and all in vain, if thou neglecteft the prefent opportunity and feafon of Grace. Confider the Spirit of God will not alwaies ftrive with the children of men. Confider, this may be the laft Sermon that ever thou maist hear; (Some one Sermon will be the laft) And think thus with thy felf, fuch a gale of the Spirit, as now I feel, may never be afforded me again. Shall I be fo foolish then, as not to yeeld to thefe blessed motions? Today, while it is called to day, hear his voice, and harden not thy heart. Luke 8.18. Take heed therefore how ye hear. Ecclef.5.1. Keep thy foot when thou goeft to the Houfe of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the facrifice offools; for they confider not that they do evil. Rom.10.14. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preach er? V.15. And how shall they preach, except they be fent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things? Jam.1.18. of his own will begat he us, with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of |